Self-contained manual lifting screen

ABSTRACT

It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-standing manually operated elevating screen which makes it possible to raise and lower the screen over a long period of time without encountering any trouble such as damage, deformation or the like, and which makes it possible to simplify the construction used for this purpose. The upper-end supporting member  4  to which one end of the screen  1  is connected and the base member  3 D to which the other end of the screen  1  is connected are pivot-connected by left and right linking mechanisms  5, 5 . Urging means  16, 16  which are used to urge the lower side arms  13, 13  upward are provided, and slide members  20, 20  that are free to slide are fit over either the let and right upper side arms  11, 11  or the left and right lower side arms  13, 13 , or both. These left and right slide members  20, 20  are connected so that these members are free to rotate in relative terms on a vertical line S that is positioned in the approximate center of the screen  1  in the transverse direction of the screen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a self-standing manually operatedelevating screen which is constructed so that the screen can be deployedupward by lifting an upper-end supporting member by hand, and so thatthe deployed screen can be taken up and accommodated inside a casing bypushing the upper-end supporting member downward, thus allowing thescreen to be carried.

BACKGROUND ART

Various types of the abovementioned self-standing manually operatedelevating screens have been proposed. For example, a system has beenused in which the screen is held in a deployed position bypivot-connecting the upper end of a pantograph type linking mechanism tothe approximate center of the upper-end supporting member of the screenwith respect the transverse direction of the screen).

However, in cases where the upper end of a linking mechanism ispivot-connected only to the approximate center of the upper-endsupporting member of the screen with respect to the transverse directionof the screen as described above, the left-right balance adjustment andthe like must be performed with high precision in order to accomplishthe smooth extension and retraction of the linking mechanism with goodstability, and in order to cause the screen to stand by itself with goodstability. Furthermore, smooth raising and lowering of the screen cannotbe accomplished unless the raising and lowering of the screen iseffected via the center of the upper-end supporting member with respectto the transverse direction, so that there may be a drop in operability.

For example, a screen which is constructed so that the left and rightends of an upper-end supporting member and the left and right ends of asupporting frame are connected and supported by means of left and rightlinking mechanisms consisting of upper-end side arms andsupporting-frame side arms, thus making it possible to accomplish thesmooth extension and retraction of the linking mechanisms with goodstability, and to cause the screen to stand by itself with goodstability, has already been proposed as a screen which solves theabovementioned problems (for example, see FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No.3243037.

However, the abovementioned screen disclosed in Japanese Patent No.3243037 (See FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No 3243037) has a construction inwhich the left and right linking mechanisms can be freely extended andretracted independently of each other, and has a construction in whichthe left and right linking mechanisms are caused to move in linkage withone end [of each linking mechanism] connected to the upper-endsupporting member. Accordingly, if the screen is pushed downward by wayof the left or right end portion of the upper-end supporting member ofthe screen in a deployed state, the upper-end supporting member willfirst drop considerably on the side that is pushed, thus causing thismember to assume an inclined attitude, so that the linking mechanism onthe side that has dropped is greatly shortened. As a result, a largeload is applied only to the linking mechanism on the shortened side, andthis may lead to deformation or damage of the linking mechanism.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a self-standing manually operated elevating screen which makesit possible to raise and lower the screen over a long period of timewithout the occurrence of any trouble such as deformation, damage or thelike, and which makes it possible to simplify the construction that isused for this purpose.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the abovementioned problems, the self-standingmanually operated elevating screen of the present invention ischaracterized in that: a take-up member to which one end of the screenis connected in order to take up the screen is attached to a base memberin a state in which this take-up member is urged in the take-updirection; the base member and an upper-end supporting member to whichthe other end of the screen is connected are pivot-connected by linkingmechanism formed by the pivot connection of upper side arms and lowerside arms, with the linking mechanisms being separated into the left andright sides of the approximate center of the screen with respect to thetransverse direction thereof; the pivot connection part of the upperside arm disposed on the left side in the transverse direction of thescreen and the lower side arm disposed on the same side is disposed onthe right side with respect to the transverse center portion of theupper-end supporting member, and the pivot connection part of the upperside arm disposed on the right side in the transverse direction of thescreen and the lower side part disposed on the same side is disposed onthe left side with respect to the transverse center portion of theupper-end supporting member; urging means for urging the lower side armsupward are installed between the lower side arms and the base member;and slide members which are freely slidable are attached either to theleft and right upper side arms or the left and right lower side arms, orto both the left and right upper side arms and the left and right lowerside arms, these left and right slide members being connected so thatthe slide members are capable of relative rotation on a vertical linepositioned in the approximate center of the screen with respect to thetransverse direction of the screen.

The screen can be smoothly and stably supported by the extension andretraction of the linking mechanisms disposed on the left and rightsides when the screen is pulled upward (raised) and placed in theattitude of use, or when the screen is pushed downward and placed in anaccommodated attitude. Furthermore, for example, if the right end orleft end (with respect to the transverse direction of the screen) of theupper-end supporting member of the screen in the deployed state (usestate) is pushed downward, or if the right end or left end (with respectto the transverse direction of the screen) of the upper-end supportingmember of the screen in the accommodated state is pulled upward, theamounts of extension or retraction of the left and right linkingmechanisms, i.e., the swinging angles of the left and right arms, willdiffer. As a result, the connected slide members cannot slide (move). Inother words, unless the amounts of extension or retraction of the leftand right linking mechanisms are the same, the extension and retractionactions of the linking mechanisms are forcibly stopped. In short, theraising or lowering of the screen can be accomplished by causing theleft and right linking mechanisms to perform specified extension orretractions operations that are constantly determined, i.e., by alwaysinsuring that the swinging angles of the left and right arms are thesame, so that the left and right linking mechanisms can be extended orretracted with good stability by the same integrally linked movements.Furthermore, it is conceivable that a large device such as a left-rightbalancing mechanism or the like could be attached in order to insure thestable extension and retraction of the let and right linking mechanisms;in such a case, however, the size of the apparatus would be increased,and the cost would also be increased. The extension and retractionoperations of the left and right arms can always be regulated to thesame movements merely by connecting two slide members installed on theleft and right arms as in the present invention, so that the raising andlowering of the screen can be accomplished in a smooth manner.

Stopper members which are used to stop the movement of the left andright slide members attached to the abovementioned left and right armsin the longitudinal direction of the arms by contacting [the slidemembers] when the attitude of the left and right arms is altered to ahorizontal attitude are disposed on the abovementioned arms.

Accordingly, if the attitude of the screen is switched from the useattitude to the accommodated attitude, the left and right arms, i.e.,the left and right upper side arms, left and right lower side arms orboth sets of left and right arms, are placed in a horizontal attitude,so that the left and right slide members that are free to move withrespect to the arms contact the stopper members, thus making it possibleto maintain the slide members in specified positions. As a result, incases where the screen is switched from the accommodated attitude to theuse attitude, the need to position the respective slide members inspecified positions, i.e., the need to adjust the respective slidemembers to a state in which the connected positions of the slide membersare located on a vertical line positioned in the approximate center ofthe screen with respect to the transverse direction of the screen, canbe eliminated.

The abovementioned stopper members may be constructed so that thesestopper members also serve as attachment members used to attach one endof each of the abovementioned urging means to the arms.

The abovementioned slide members consist of two split cases, and holdingparts that are used to hold (in a manner that allows free rotation) headparts disposed on both ends of pins used to connect the split cases sothat the split cases are capable of relative rotation are disposed onthe respective split cases; as a result, the split cases can easily bemounted on the assembled linking mechanisms, and both split cases can beconnected to each other by the pins in a manner that allows freerelative rotation with little frictional resistance.

A screen deployment position regulating member, which comes into contactwith the upper end of at least one of the two slide members attached tothe left and right arms and prevent the slide member(s) from movingupward during the deployment of the screen, is attached at least one ofthe left and right arms.

For example, in cases where screens of different sizes are assembled,the position of the upper end of the screen in the case of maximumdeployment of the screen must be altered. In such cases, the gas springsthat are used to urge the lower side arms upward must be prepared asseparate gas springs with a different capacity (driving force).Furthermore, the position of the upper end of the screen in the case ofmaximum deployment of the screen is set lower than the maximumdeployment position so that the image [projected on the screen] cannotbe seen. In this case, screens of different sizes can be assembled usingthe same parts by altering the maximum deployment position of the screenby means of a screen deployment position regulating member as describedabove; furthermore, the image can also be seen by holding the screen ina position that is lower than the maximum deployment position. If theabovementioned screen deployment position regulating member isconstructed from a member that can be freely fastened or released in anarbitrary position with respect to the arm, the maximum deploymentposition of the screen can be adjusted over a broad range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the elevating screen in the use attitude;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional back view of the elevating screen in theuse attitude;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away side view of the screen in the useattitude;

FIG. 4 is a plan view (with a portion of the screen omitted) of theelevating screen in the accommodated attitude;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the elevating screen inthe accommodated attitude;

FIG. 6 is a back view (with a portion of the screen omitted) of theelevating screen showing an attitude that is intermediate between theuse attitude and the accommodated attitude;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional back view of the elevating screen inthe accommodated attitude;

FIG. 8( a) is an enlarged view of essential parts which shows theattachment parts of the connecting members attached to the elevatingscreen in a state of maximum deployment (use attitude);

FIG. 8( b) is an enlarged view of essential parts which shows theattachment parts of the slide members of the elevating screen showing anattitude that is intermediate between the use attitude and accommodatedattitude;

FIG. 8( c) is an enlarged view of essential parts which shows theattachment parts of the slide members of the elevating screen in theaccommodated attitude;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the slide members;

FIG. 10 shows sectional views which illustrate the state in which theslide members are fit over the left and right lower side arms so thatthe slide members are free to move, with FIG. 10( a) showing a sectionalview cut along the area of the pin, and FIG. 10( b) showing a sectionalview cut along the area of the screws;

FIG. 11 is a partially sectional back view of the elevating screen in ause attitude in which the screen is lowered slightly from the maximumupper and position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12( a) is an explanatory diagram of essential parts which shows astate in which the upper end of the slide member has contacted the lowerend of the screen deployment position regulating member as a result ofthe extension of the linking mechanism, so that the maximum upper endposition of the screen is regulated;

FIG. 12( b) is an explanatory diagram of essential parts which shows astate immediately prior to the point where the upper end of the slidemember contacts the lower end of the screen deployment positionregulating member as a result of the extension of the linking mechanism;and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view which shows the state immediately prior tothe attachment of the screen deployment position regulating member tothe lower side arm.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 5 show a light-weight compact (handy type) self-standingaccommodated elevating screen (hereafter referred to as a “elevatingscreen”) 2 in which the screen (the size of the screen may be a sizeother than that shown in the figures) 1 can be accommodated and carried.Furthermore, in the following description, the longitudinal direction ofthe casing 3 that is used to accommodate the elevating screen 2 shown inFIG. 1 (i.e., the width direction of the screen) will be taken as thetransverse direction, and the direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the abovementioned casing 3 (width directionof the screen) will be taken as the cross direction. The abovementionedelevating screen 2 comprises the abovementioned casing 3 which is usedto take up and accommodate the abovementioned screen 1, and left andright linking mechanisms 5, 5 (see FIG. 5) which are disposed on theback the of the abovementioned screen 1, and whose upper ends arepivot-connected to the left and right ends of an upper-end supportingmember 4 to which the upper end of the abovementioned screen 1 isconnected. 6 shown in FIG. 5 is a cover member which can be freelyopened and closed, and which is used to close the upper opening part 3Kof the abovementioned casing 3; furthermore, 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5indicates a pair of front and rear handles which are used when theelevating screen 2 is carried. These handles 7 are attached in mannerthat allows free swinging about the horizontal axis to supportingmembers 8, 8 that are screw-fastened to the abovementioned casing 3;furthermore, these handles 7 are constructed so that the handles 7 arefree to swing between an accommodated attitude indicated by the solidline in FIG. 5 and a use attitude (indicated by the two-dot chain line)positioned above the casing 3. In some cases, however, these handles 7may be omitted. The abovementioned elevating screen 2 is not limited tothe construction shown in the figures; the shape, size and the like maybe freely altered.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the abovementioned casing 3 consists of atubular casing main body 3A which is more or less C-shaped in crosssection, and in which the abovementioned upper opening part 3K isformed, end part caps 3B, 3B which are used to close off the openingparts on the left and right ends of this casing main body 3A, and legparts 3C, 3C which are more or less rectangular as seen in a plan view,and which are attached to the undersurface of the abovementioned casingmain body in two specified locations on the left and right so that theseleg parts 3C, 3C are free to rotate. The leg parts 3C, 3C areconstructed so that the longitudinal direction of these leg parts can befreely switched between an accommodated (non-use) attitude (see FIG. 5)along the longitudinal direction of the casing 3 and a use attitude (seeFIG. 4) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the casing 3.However, the leg parts 3C, 3C may also be constructed so that these legparts are detachable, or may be constructed as fixed leg parts that arefixed in the use attitude; furthermore, if the elevating screen 2 can bestably supported by the bottom surface of the casing 3, the leg parts3C, 3C may be omitted.

As is shown in FIG. 5, a horizontal plate 3D which is positionedslightly on the upper side is installed on the bottom part of theabovementioned casing main body 3A. This horizontal plate 3D isconstructed so that this plate also serves as a base member for thefastening of the abovementioned linking mechanisms 5, 5 and the like;however, it would also be possible to attach a separate base member tothe casing main body 3A.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the abovementioned screen 1 is taken up on atubular take-up pipe 9 used as a take-up member which is supportedinside the abovementioned casing 3. The take-up pipe 9 is urged in thetake-up direction (rotationally urged in one direction) by urging meanssuch as a spring or the like (not shown in the figures). Furthermore,the upper end of the screen 1 can be connected to the upper-endsupporting member 4 by engaging an engaging part 10 which is attached tothe upper end of the abovementioned screen 1 with the abovementionedupper-end supporting member 4 (which has a left-right dimension that ismore or less the same as the left-right width of the abovementionedscreen 1); however, this connection may also be accomplished by someother method. A handle 4A which is used to raise the screen 1 isscrew-fastened to the approximate cent raising-and-lowering arm portionof the abovementioned upper-end supporting member 4 (with respect to theleft-right direction); however, this handle 4A may be omitted.

Next, the abovementioned linking mechanisms 5, 5 will be described. Asis shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the upper ends of left and right upperside arms 11, 11 which are made of metal (some other material may alsobe used as long as this material has more or less the same strength as ametal material) and which have a square-tube shape (this may also be acylindrical shape or the like) are respectively pivot-connected viabrackets 12 to the left and right end portions (the positions of theseconnections may also be located slightly toward the center from both endportions, as long as the positions are in the vicinity of the endportions) of the abovementioned upper-end supporting member 4, and thelower ends of left and right lower side arms 13, 13 which are made ofmetal (some other material may also be used as long as this material hasmore or less the same strength as a metal material) and which have asquare-tube shape (this may also be a cylindrical shape or the like) arerespectively pivot-connected to supporting plates 14, 14 which arefastened to the left and right end portions (the positions of theseconnections may also be located slightly toward the center from both endportions, as long as the positions are in the vicinity of the endportions) of the abovementioned base member 3D; furthermore, the lowerends of the abovementioned left and right upper side arms 11, 11 and theupper ends of the abovementioned left and right lower side arms arerespectively pivot-connected to each other on the same sides, thusforming left and right linking mechanisms 5, 5 that can be freelyextended and retracted. As a result of the pivot connection of the upperends of the upper side arms 11, 11 in positions close to the left andright ends of the upper-end supporting member 4 as described above, theraising and lowering of the screen 1 can be accomplished with muchgreater stability; in some cases, however, the upper ends of the upperside arms 11, 11 may be pivot-connected in positions close to the centerwith respect to the left-right direction.

To describe this in greater detail, the abovementioned left and rightlinking mechanisms 5, 5 that can be freely extended and retracted areconstructed by pivot-connecting the upper ends of the abovementionedleft and right upper side arms 11, 11 to the left and right end portions(these connections may also be made in positions that are locatedslightly toward the center from both end portions, as long as thesepositions are in the vicinity of the end portions) of the abovementionedupper-end supporting member 4 in a state in which the positions areshifted in the cross direction so that there is no overlapping in theleft-right direction, pivot-connecting the lower ends of theabovementioned left and right lower side arms 13, 13 to the left andright end portions (these connections may also be made in positions thatare located slightly toward the center from both end portions, as longas these positions are in the vicinity of the end portions) of theabovementioned base member 3D in a state in which the positions areshifted in the cross direction so that there is no overlapping in theleft-right direction, and pivot-connecting the lower ends of theabovementioned left and right upper side arms 11, 11 and the upper endsof the abovementioned left and right lower side arms 13, 13 to eachother on the same sides via reinforcing connecting members 15, 15 thatcan be fit over these parts. Furthermore, as a result of the pin body15C (described later) that constitutes the pivot-connecting part of theconnecting member 15 of the left-side linking mechanism 5 (among the twoconnecting members 15, 15 that pivot-connect the abovementioned upperside arms 11, 11 and lower side arms 13, 13) being constantly positionedon the right side, and the pin body 15C (described later) thatconstitutes the pivot-connecting part of the connecting member 15 of theremaining right-side linking mechanism 5 being constantly positioned onthe left side, a state in which the lower end portions of the upper sidearms 11, 11 cross each other and the upper end portions of the lowerside arms 13, 13 cross each other is maintained in the state of maximumextension of the linking mechanisms 5; furthermore, the state of maximumextension of the left and right linking mechanisms 5, 5 from theretracted accommodated state is set (limited) so that thee is nooverlapping of the two connecting members 15, 15 in the cross direction.Accordingly, since the connecting members 15, 15 which are fit over thearms 11, 11, 13, 13 and which have a larger diameter than these arms donot cross each other, the arms 11, 11, 13, 13 of the left and rightlinking mechanisms 5, 5 can be positioned in closer proximity to eachother in the cross direction; moreover, the extension and retractionrange of the linking mechanisms 5, 5 can be limited to a small range,which is also advantageous in terms of durability. Furthermore, as isalso shown in FIG. 7, by setting the lengths of the arms 11, 11, 13, 13[so that] the connecting member 15 which pivot-connects the upper sidearm 11 that is positioned on the left side in the extended state and thelower side arm 13 that is positioned on the left side in the extendedstate is positioned at the right end portion and [so that] theconnecting member 15 which pivot-connects the upper side arm 11 that ispositioned on the right side in the extended state and the lower sidearm 13 that is positioned on the right side in the extended state ispositioned at the left end portion in the retracted state of theabovementioned left and right linking mechanisms 5, 5, it is possible toobtain the following advantage: namely, not only is there no protrusionof the linking mechanisms 5, 5 from the screen 2 in the left-rightdirection during the extension operation of the linking mechanisms 5, 5,but the movement stroke of the screen 2 in the vertical direction canalso be increased. However, it would also be possible to work theinvention with the length of the arms 11, 11, 13, 13 shortened, and theconnecting members 15, 15 disposed so that these members protrude fromthe left and right sides of the screen 2 (although the size of thecasing 3 would be increased in the longitudinal direction).

As is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8 (a), [each of] the abovementionedconnecting members 15 consists of an upper-side engaging member 15A witha square shape which is fastened in place by being fit over the lowerend of the corresponding upper side arm 11, a lower-side engaging member15B with a square shape which is fastened in place by being fit over thelower end of the corresponding lower side arm 13, and a pin body 15Cwhich constitutes a pivot-connecting part that connects the upper-sideengaging member 15A and lower-side engaging member 15B so that thesemembers are free to rotate. However, some other construction may also beused.

As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, gas springs (some other construction mayalso be used) 16, 16 used as urging means that urge the abovementionedlower side arms 13, 13 upward are attached between points located atmore or less the centers (with respect to the longitudinal direction) ofthe lower side arms 13, 13 and brackets 17, 17 which are fastened to thebase member 3D in positions that are located further toward the center(with respect to the left-right direction) than the abovementionedsupporting plates 14, 14, so that the lowering of the screen 1 can beperformed slowly, and so that the screen 1 can be positioned and held inan arbitrary height position. In actuality, furthermore, the screen 1can be held in an arbitrary height position by balancing all of thefactors such as the driving force of the abovementioned gas springs 1,16, the frictional resistance in the pivot-connecting parts of theabovementioned connecting members 15, 15, the weight of the screen 1 andthe like that is applied to the lower side arms 13, 13, the take-updriving force of the screen 1 and the like.

As is shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 and FIGS. 8( a), (b), (c) through 10,slide members 20 each consisting of two split cases 18 and 19 arerespectively attached to the abovementioned left and right lower sidearms 13, 13, and these left and right slide members 20, 20 are connectedon a vertical line S positions in more or less the central portion withrespect to the cross direction and the left-right direction so thatrelative rotation of the members is possible, thus making it possible toextend and retract the left and right linking mechanisms 5, 5 smoothlyand with good stability. Here, the slide members 20, 20 are attached tothe lower side arms 13, 13; however, it would also be possible to attachthe slide members 20, 20 to the upper side arms 11, 11, and the presentinvention could also be worked by attaching slide members 20, 20, 20, 20to both the lower side arms 13, 13 and upper side arms 11, 11.

As is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10( a), (b), one split case 18 [of each ofthe abovementioned slide members 20] consists of a C-shaped case mainbody 18A which covers approximately half of the outer circumference ofthe corresponding lower side arm 13, and a connecting plate part 18Bwhich extends downward from the lower end portion of this case main body18A. The other split case 19 consists of a C-shaped case main body 19Awhich covers approximately the remaining half of the outer circumferenceof the corresponding lower side arm 13, and a connecting plate part 19Bwhich extends downward from the lower end portion of this case main body19A. The two case main bodies 18A and 19A are anchored and fastenedtogether by a recessed part 18C and a projecting part 19C which arerespectively formed in the upper-end joining surfaces of the case mainbodies 18A and 19A. Furthermore, the system is arranged so that the twosplit cases 18 and 19 are formed into an integral unit by screwingscrews 21, 21 that are passed through a pair of left and rightthrough-holes 18D, 18D formed in the connecting plate part 18B of onesplit case 18 into screw parts 19D, 19D formed in the connecting platepart 19B of the other split case 19; however, it would also be possibleto form these split cases into an integral unit by means of an anchoringmechanism, adhesive agent or the like. Furthermore, a round recessedpart 18E which can accommodate the round head part 22A of a pin 22 thatis used to pivot-connect the two split cases 18 and 19 so that thesesplit cases are free to rotate relative to each other is formed in theapproximate center portion (with respect to the left-right direction) ofthe connecting plate part 18B of the abovementioned split case 18, andthe connecting plate part 19B of the other split case 19 has anarch-form wall part 19E which checks the movement of the head part 22Aof the abovementioned accommodated pin 22 in the axial direction bycontacting this head part 22A, and which allows the shaft part 22B ofthe pin 22 to pass through, and supports this shaft part so that the pinis free to rotate. Here, as a result of the use of the pin 22, therelative rotation of the split cases 18 and 19 can be performed in astate in which there is little friction; however, a part other than thispin 22 may also be used. Accordingly, as a result of the split cases 18and 19 that are pivot-connected via the pin 22 so that these split casesare free to rotate being fastened to the lower side arms 13, 13 by beingfit over these arms so that the split cases are free to slide as shownin FIGS. 10( a) and 10(b), the left and right linking mechanisms 5, 5can always be operated smoothly and stably when the screen 1 is switchedfrom the use state to the accommodated state, since a state is obtainedin which the lower side arms 13, 13 are connected by the slide members20, 20 so that these lower side arms 13, 13 always show left-rightsymmetry at an arbitrary height position. Furthermore, as is shown inFIGS. 4, 7 and 8(c), when the lower side arms 13, 13 are in a horizontalattitude constituting the accommodated attitude, the abovementionedslide members 20, 20 are in a free state that allows movement in thehorizontal direction. However, movement of the slide members 20, 20 ischecked as a result of the slide members 20, 20 contacting theattachment parts 23, 23 formed as more or less C-shaped stopper membersdisposed on the upper ends of the gas springs 16, 16, so that the slidemembers 20, 20 can be maintained in this position (on the vertical lineS). As a result of the positions of the slide members 20, 20 thus beingregulated by the attachment parts 23, 23, the following advantage isobtained: namely, when the spring 1 is switched from the accommodatedattitude to the use attitude, the attitude can immediately be alteredwithout moving the slide members 20, 20 to specified positions (on thevertical line S). However, the present invention may also be worked withthe attachment members 23, 23 omitted. Furthermore, the advantage of areduction in the number of parts can be obtained by using the attachmentmembers 23, 23 to construct the stopper members (position regulatingmembers) of the slide members 20, 20; however, these stopper members mayalso be constructed from other members.

When the abovementioned elevating screen 2 is to be raised and deployed,the elevating screen 2 is first moved to a specified position, and theabovementioned leg parts 3C, 3C are switched to the use attitude that isperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the casing 3 as is shownin FIGS. 1 through 4. From this state, the cover member 6 shown in FIG.5 is move in the direction indicated by the arrow, so that the upperopening part 3K is opened. Next, the [elevating screen 2] can bedeployed as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 by lifting the handle 4A to aspecific height. When the linking mechanisms 5, 5 perform an extensionoperation as the abovementioned elevating screen 2 is raised, the slidemembers 20, 20 slide (move) along the lower side arms 13, 13 whilerotating in mutually opposite directions in conformity to the swingingmotion of the left and right lower side arms 13, 13 as shown in FIGS. 6and 8( b); as a result, [the slide members 20, 20] move upward along thevertical line S, so that the lower side arms 13, 13 are caused to swingat the same angle by the slide members 20, 20, thus making it possibleto raise the elevating screen 2 with good stability. Furthermore, inFIGS. 6 and 8( b), a state is shown in which the elevating screen 2 hasbeen raised approximately half-way.

When the abovementioned deployed elevating screen 2 is to be placed inthe accommodated state, [the elevating screen 2] is pushed downward bymeans of the abovementioned handle 4A, so that the linking mechanisms 5,5 are caused to perform a retraction operation, thus taking up andaccommodating the screen 1 inside the casing 3. When the linkingmechanisms 5, 5 perform a retraction operation as the abovementionedelevating screen 2 is pushed downward, the slide members 20, 20 slide(move) along the lower side arms 13, 13 while rotating in mutuallyopposite directions in conformity to the swinging motion of the lowerside arms 13, 13 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8( b); as a result, [the slidemembers 20, 20] move upward along the vertical line S, so that the lowerside arms 13, 13 are caused to swing at the same angle by the slidemembers 20, 20, thus making it possible to push the elevating screen 2downward with good stability. Furthermore, in FIGS. 6 and 8( b), a stateis shown in which the elevating screen 2 has be pushed downwardapproximately half-way. When the retraction operation of theabovementioned linking mechanisms 5, 5 is completed, the slide members20, 20 contact the attachment members 23, 23 so that the positions ofthe slide members 20, 20 (positions on the vertical line S) aremaintained as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8( c). When the retraction operationof the abovementioned linking mechanisms 5, 5 is completed, the covermember 6 is closed. Then, when the elevating screen 2 is to be moved toanother location, the leg parts 3C, 3C are switched to the direction olength of the casing 3, so that contact of the leg parts 3C, 3C withother objects can be avoided while the elevating screen 2 is beingmoved.

As is shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, the present invention can also beworked by attaching a screen deployment position regulating member 24(which is used to check the upward movement of one of the two slidemembers 20, 20 attached to the abovementioned left and right lower sidearms 13, 13 (the slide member positioned in front as seen from the backside of the screen 1 in FIG. 11) during the deployment of theabovementioned screen 1 by contacting this slide member 20) to the rightlower side arm 1 in FIG. 11.

The abovementioned screen deployment position regulating member 24 canbe formed from a synthetic resin, metal, wood or the like. As is shownin FIG. 13, [this member 24] is formed as a more or less C-shaped memberconsisting of a plate-form main body part 24A which contacts the firstside surface 13A (positioned on the front side in FIG. 11) among thefour side surfaces 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D of the [corresponding] lowerside arm 13 (which has a rectangular cross-sectional shape), and inwhich a through-hole 24K that allows the screw part 25B of a screw 25 topass through is formed in substantially the central portion, and arecessed part 24S (this may be omitted) that is used to completelyaccommodate the head part 25 a of the screw 25 is formed in the screwinsertion end of this through-hole 24K, and a pair of plate-formextension parts 24C and 24B which extend in the same directionperpendicular to the main body part 24A from both ends of this main bodypart 24A, and which contact the second side surface 13B and third sidesurface 13C that are adjacent to the abovementioned first side surface13A on both sides (these extension parts 24C and 24B need not contactthese side surfaces). However, it would also be possible to omit theextension parts 24C and 24B, and to construct this member 24 from themain body part 24A alone (although this would reduce (weaken) thestrength of the member 24). Forming the screen deployment positionregulating member 24 with a flat-plate shape or C shape in this manneris advantageous in that this allows the member 24 to be mounted evenafter the screen is assembled. However, a cylindrical or square-tubeshape may also be used; [in short,] the screen deployment positionregulating member 24 may have any [desired] shape. Furthermore, theabovementioned screen deployment position regulating member 24 is causedto contact the [corresponding] lower side arm 13 in a state in which thethrough-hole 24K of this member 24 is caused to coincide with aspecified screw hole 13K (second screw hole from the bottom in FIG. 12(b)) among a plurality of screw holes 13K (four screw holes in FIG. 12(b)) formed in the lower side arm 13 at specified intervals; then, thescreen deployment position regulating member 24 is fastened to the lowerside arm 13 using a screw 25. Here, as a result of the screen deploymentposition regulating member 24 being fastened to the lower side arm 13using an arbitrary screw hole 13K among the four screw holes 13K formedin the lower side arm 13, the apparatus is constructed so that themaximum upper end position of he screen 1 can be altered to any of fourpositions, and so that [this maximum upper end position] can be alteredto a fifth position that is even higher than the highest position amongthe abovementioned four positions by removing the screen deploymentposition regulating member 24. However, it would also be possible toform a single screw hole 13K and thus construct the apparatus so thatthe maximum upper end position of the screen can be changed to either oftwo positions by attaching or removing the screen deployment positionregulating member 24, or to set the number of screw holes 13K at anydesired number. Furthermore, it would also be possible to work thepresent invention by forming the screw holes 13K as long slots along thelongitudinal direction of the lower side arm 13, thus constructing theapparatus so that the screen deployment position regulating member 24can be fastened in any position within these slots. Moreover, theapparatus is devised so that the screen deployment position regulatingmember 24 is fastened to the lower side arm 13 using a screw 25.However, it would also be possible (for example) to form one or moreanchoring holes in the lower side arm 13, to form anchoring parts thatenter the abovementioned anchoring holes on the screen deploymentposition regulating member 24, and to construct the apparatus so thatthe screen deployment position regulating member 24 can be freelyengaged with or disengaged from the lower side arm 13; moreover, itwould also be possible to construct the apparatus so that the screendeployment position regulating member 24 can be freely attached to ordetached from the lower side arm by some other means. In some cases,furthermore, it would also be possible to work the present invention byattaching the screen deployment position regulating member 24 to thelower side arm 13 by welding, an adhesive agent or the like so that thescreen deployment position regulating member 24 cannot be removed.

Accordingly, when the handle 4A is lifted as described above, thelinking mechanisms 5,5 perform an extension operation so that theselinking mechanisms 5, 5 are further extended from the state shown inFIG. 12( b), ad the upper end of the slide member 20 contacts the lowerend of the screen deployment position regulating member as shown in FIG.12( a), so that the extension operation of the linking mechanisms 5, 5is checked, thus making it possible to regulate the upper end a positionof the screen 1 in this position.

In the invention, in cases where the screen is pulled upward (raised)and placed in the use attitude, or in cases where the screen is pusheddownward and placed in the accommodated attitude, the linking mechanismsdisposed on the left and right extend or retract so that the screen canbe supported smoothly and with good stability. Furthermore, thisinvention makes it possible to provide a self-standing manually operatedelevating screen in which (for example) the pushing downward of theright end or left end (with respect to the transverse direction of thescreen) of the upper-end supporting member of the screen in the deployedstate (use state), or the pulling upward of the right end or left end(with respect to the transverse direction of the screen) of theupper-end supporting member of the screen in the accommodated state, canbe checked by the slide members, so that the screen can be favorablyused over a long period of time without causing any trouble such asdeformation, damage or the like as a result of a large extension orretraction operation of only one of the linking mechanisms as inconventional techniques. Furthermore, since the left and right arms canbe caused to swing at the same swinging angle by the connected slidemembers, the left and right linking mechanisms can always be operated bya determined specified operation, so that the left and right linkingmechanisms can be smoothly and stably extended or retracted in a statein which these mechanisms are linked as an integral unit. Moreover, inthe present invention, the construction can be simplified compared tocases in which a large apparatus such as a left-right balancingmechanism or the like is attached in order to cause stable extension andretraction of the left and right linking mechanisms. Accordingly, thepresent invention is advantageous in that this invention can prevent anincrease in the size of the apparatus and an increase in the cost of theapparatus.

In the invention, the slide members which are in a free state can bemaintained in specified positions by the stopper members when the screenis switched from the use attitude to the accommodated attitude.Accordingly, when the screen is switched from the accommodated attitudeto the use attitude, there is no need to adjust the slide members tospecified positions, i.e., to make individual positional adjustments ofthe slide members into a state in which the connected positions of theslide members are on a vertical line that is positioned more or less inthe center with respect to the transverse direction of the screen. Thisis advantageous from the standpoint of use.

In the invention, the stopper members are formed by the attachmentmembers that are used to attach one end of each urging means to thearms; as a result, the number of parts required can be reduced, which isadvantageous from the standpoints of cost and assembly.

In the invention, the slide members each consist of two split cases, andthe respective split cases are equipped with holding parts that are usedto hold (in a manner that allows free rotation) the head parts disposedon both ends of a pin that is used to connect both split cases so thatthe split cases are free to rotate in relative terms. As a result, thesplit cases can easily be installed afterward on the arms of theassembled linking mechanisms; moreover, both split cases can beconnected in a manner that allows free relative rotation in a state inwhich there is little frictional resistance. This is advantageous fromthe standpoint of assembly; moreover, this is also advantageous in thatthe operating force that is used to raise and lower the screen can bereduced.

In the invention, a screen deployment position regulating member whichis used to check the upward movement of at least one of the two slidemembers attached to the left and right arms by contacting the upper endof this slide member during the deployment of the screen is attached toat least one of the arms, i.e., the left arm or right arm. As a result,the maximum deployment position of the screen can be altered, so thatscreens of different sizes can be assembled suing the same parts, thusmaking it possible to manufacture screens of different sizes withoutincreasing the number of parts. This is advantageous from thestandpoints of manufacture and part control; furthermore, the screen canbe manufactured as a screen with a high commercial product vale thatallows alteration of the use configuration (e.g., viewing in a loweredstate or the like).

1. A self-standing manually operated elevating screen which ischaracterized in that: a take-up member to which one end of the screenis connected in order to take up the screen is attached to a base memberin a state in which this take-up member is urged in the take-updirection; said base member and an upper-end supporting member to whichthe other end of said screen is connected are pivot-connected by linkingmechanism formed by the pivot connection of upper side arms and lowerside arms, with the linking mechanisms being separated into the left andright sides of the approximate center of the screen with respect to thetransverse direction thereof; the pivot connection part of the upperside arm disposed on the left side in the transverse direction of saidscreen and the lower side arm disposed on the same side is disposed onthe right side with respect to the transverse center portion of saidupper-end supporting member, and the pivot connection part of the upperside arm disposed on the right side in the transverse direction of saidscreen and the lower side part disposed on the same side is disposed onthe left side with respect to the transverse center portion of saidupper-end supporting member; urging means for urging said lower sidearms upward are installed between said lower side arms and said basemember; and slide members which are freely slidable are attached eitherto said left and right upper side arms or said left and right lower sidearms, or to both said left and right upper side arms and said left andright lower side arms, these left and right slide members beingconnected-so that the slide members are capable of relative rotation ona vertical line positioned in the approximate center of said screen withrespect to the transverse direction of said screen.
 2. The self-standingmanually operated elevating screen according to claim 1, wherein saidarms are provided with stopper members so that the stopper members comeinto contact with the left and right slide members attached to said leftand right arms and prevent them from moving in the longitudinaldirection of said arms in cases where the attitude of said arms isaltered to a horizontal attitude are disposed on said arms.
 3. Theself-standing manually operated elevating screen according to claim 2,wherein said stopper members are constituted by attachment members thatare used to attach one end of said urging means to the arms.
 4. Theself-standing manually operated elevating screen according to claim 1,wherein said slide members each comprise two split cases, and each ofsaid split cases is provided with a holding part for rotatably holdinghead parts that are disposed on both ends of a pin that is used toconnect the split cases so as to allow relative rotation of said splitcases.
 5. The self-standing manually operated elevating screen accordingto any of claims 1 through 4, wherein a screen deployment positionregulating member, which comes into contact with the upper end of atleast one of the two slide members attached to said left and right armsand prevent the slide member(s) from moving upward during the deploymentof said screen, is attached at least one of said left and right arms.